Borough Talks

Nick Willoughby, founder of The Black Pig, joins Giulia Crouch to taste his stall’s legendary pork and parmesan sandwich and chat about his journey as a food entrepreneur, the theatre of street food, and the essential elements of a perfect sandwich.

Marianna Kolokotroni, Greek food specialist and founder of Oliveology, joins Giulia Crouch to taste some Spartan olive oil and chat about the benefits of a Mediterranean lifestyle, the memories triggered by grape molasses, and why her olives are so different to the supermarket version.

Chef, content creator and “food waste disruptor” Martyn Odell joins Giulia Crouch to chat about his simple, achievable approaches to avoiding waste, the joys of shopping in a food market, and the unforgettable experience of watching Borough’s skilled producers at work. Watch Borough Market's YouTube series with Martyn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmD2hJ5b48Y&list=PLRri2Pql7e4Q

Samantha Lim, co-owner of Elliot’s, joins Giulia Crouch to taste some of the restaurant’s legendary Isle of Mull cheese puffs and chat about the appeal of simple, seasonal cooking, the evolution of low-intervention wines, and her love-hate relationship with the concept of ‘small plates’.

Bill Oglethorpe, founder of Kappacasein, joins Giulia Crouch to taste a selection of his Bermondsey-made Alpine cheeses and chat about becoming a “qualified peasant” in Switzerland, why the cheesemaker’s craft is about guiding rather than mastering, and how he invented a toastie so good it made Phil Rosenthal propose to him.

Monika Linton, founder of the highly influential Brindisa shop and restaurant, joins Giulia Crouch to taste a selection of Iberian products and tapas dishes and discuss her passion for Spanish cuisine, the gradual evolution of the British palate, and the joy found in unheralded foods like pulses and vinegars.

Thea Wunderer, founder of Alpine Deli, imports products from South Tyrol, a mountainous province in the far north of Italy. She joins Giulia Crouch to taste a selection of cured meats and discuss the unique food culture of her home region, her enduring love of market trading, and her advice for anyone starting a specialist food business.

Neal’s Yard Dairy’s director Bronwen Percival and young cheesemonger Cián Ó Cinnéide join Giulia Crouch to discuss the magic of a slow make, the art of the monger, and the existential threat faced by traditional regional cheeses.

Elliot Hashtroudi, head chef at Camille, joins Giulia Crouch to share a plate of chicken hearts and chat about his love of French regional cuisine, how the shifting seasons inspire creativity in the kitchen, and the beauty he finds in underappreciated British ingredients.

Claudia Boyer, co-founder of Jenki, joins Giulia Crouch to taste some of the matcha bar’s signature drinks and chat about the heritage and craft of Japanese matcha production, the factors that determine its quality, and how its slow release of caffeine is meeting a cultural moment.

Joel Ferrer, founder of La Pepiá, joins Giulia Crouch to taste some of his stall’s Venezuelan salsas. They chat about sourcing produce from his fellow traders, the ethics of avocado consumption, and how his inventive approach to arepas – the traditional South American cornbread – has helped broaden their appeal.

Andy Oliver, chef and co-owner of Thai bar and grill Kolae, joins Giulia Crouch to taste some the restaurant’s vibrantly flavoured dishes. They chat about the complexity of southern Thai cuisine, balancing authenticity with local sourcing, and accommodating spice-averse palates without compromising on heat.

Ewa Weremij, owner of Bianca Mora, joins Giulia Crouch to taste products from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy and chat about two-hour lunch breaks, the Slow Food movement, and how time is an essential ingredient of the very best parmesan and balsamic vinegar.

Tim Siadatan, chef-owner of Padella, joins Giulia Crouch to taste some of the restaurant’s signature dishes and chat about our universal love of pasta, his perspective on Italian ‘rules’, and how a simple plate of Tuscan tomatoes shaped his life.

Eduardo Florez, founder of The Colombian Coffee Company social enterprise, joins Giulia Crouch to taste some different beans and chat about the stunning diversity of coffee varieties, the unfairness of global markets, and how a focus on quality can help transform Colombian communities.

Worawan Kamann, founder of both the Khanom Krok street food stand and Raya, Borough’s southeast Asian grocery, joins Giulia Crouch to share her signature dishes and chat about sourcing great ingredients, helping curious shoppers discover new flavours, and how Thai people live to eat.

Stephanie Slater, founder of the School Food Matters charity, joins Giulia Crouch to taste a soup recipe created by local children and chat about transforming school dinners, the vital importance of learning about food, and the impact of Borough’s Young Marketeers programme.

Nick Fitzgerald, founder of Padre, joins Giulia Crouch to share some of his street food stand’s signature dishes and chat about his life-changing stint as a chef in Mexico, the regionality of the country’s cuisine, and the essential elements of a perfect taco.   

Flip Dunning, founder of Pâté Moi, joins Giulia Crouch to taste her famous mushroom pâté and chat about the strange alchemy of simple ingredients, the challenges of running a business and raising a child, and the friendships she’s forged across two decades of trading.

Calvin Pearson, head of wine at Borough Wines, joins Giulia Crouch to taste a few of his favourite festive bottles and chat about perfect pairings with a Christmas dinner, the meaning of orange wine, natural wine and ‘pet nat’, and why kegs and refillable bottles are growing in popularity.

Coles Loomis of Jumi Cheese and Jon Thrupp of Mons Cheesemongers are two of Borough Market’s most engaging cheese experts. They join Giulia Crouch to share some of their favourite winter products and chat about the artistry of small-scale cheesemakers, the ideal Christmas selection, and why blue cheeses are the haute couture of dairy.

Jack Applebee is part of the family that runs the Applebee’s Fish seafood restaurant. Raf Rundell is the manager of the Richard Haward’s Oysters stand. Together, they join Giulia Crouch to taste some of the fruits of the sea and chat about cooking turbot at Christmas, the terroir of shellfish, and how buying from a fishmonger takes the terror out of fish shopping.  

Usman Shah of Date Sultan imports premium dates while using his company’s influence to improve the pay and conditions of workers in his supply chain. He joins Giulia Crouch to taste a diverse selection of date varieties and chat about the unique qualities of this Middle Eastern fruit, going viral on social media, and his battle to combat modern slavery.

Borough Talks returns with four more podcast episodes exploring the colourful produce and personalities of Borough Market. Host Giulia Crouch sits down to share food, drink and conversation with traders whose expertise covers some of the most enticing flavours of the festive season: dates, seafood, cheese and wine.

In the Borough Market Kitchen, Salina Khairunnisa of Joli shares the cuisine of Malaysia’s Peranakan community, while Urvesh Parvais of Gujarati Rasoi cooks food rooted in the Indian state of Gujarat. They joined Giulia Crouch to taste some dishes and chat about cultural authenticity, the importance of quality ingredients and the enduring appeal of street food.  

Philip Crouch of The Parma Ham and Mozzarella Stand and Patrick Martinez of The Tinned Fish Market source spectacular products from Italy and the Iberian Peninsula. They joined Giulia Crouch to taste some of those products and chat about their relationships with producers, the importance of sharing knowledge, and their drive to find the highest-quality versions of familiar foods.

Dawn Smith of Pimento Hill has been selling her handmade sauces, seasonings and jellies at Borough Market for 14 years. She sat down with Giulia Crouch over some spicy chicken wings to discuss the adventurousness of market shoppers, the role of food in Caribbean culture, and why peanut butter with scotch bonnet chilli jam is the best thing ever. 

David Carter of Oma and Agora and Rob Dann of Bedales Wine Bar are long-time friends as well as the owners of neighbouring businesses at Borough Market. They sat down with Giulia Crouch over a glass of Calabrian rosé to discuss sources of inspiration, the impact of restaurant architecture, and the elemental pleasure of breaking bread.

Run by the McCourt family, Northfield Farm has traded at Borough since the 1990s, selling high-quality meat from its East Midlands farm. To kick off our new season of podcasts, the stand’s manager Dom McCourt sits down with Giulia Crouch to share a steak and chat about the butcher’s craft, the importance of sustainable farming, and the art of cooking meat on a barbecue.

Following publication of a new volume of her acclaimed book The Flavour Thesaurus, best-selling author Niki Segnit joins Angela Clutton at Borough Market. While exploring the stalls, they discuss the liberation that comes from cooking without a recipe, the difference between raisins and sultanas, and why allspice smells like clean ironing.

Belgian food writer, photographer and TV star Regula Ysewijn talks to Anegla Clutton about her fascination with British history and culture, her strong ties to Borough Market, and how Belgium’s food traditions act as a bridge across the country’s deep regional divides.

On a flying visit from Melbourne, the much-loved Australian food writer, broadcaster and self-proclaimed ‘vegelante’ Alice Zaslavsky joins Angela Clutton for a stimulating stroll around Borough Market’s stalls, complete with honey tasting, cheese shopping and lots of inspiring chat.

Mike Hill and Richard Dinwoodie of Utobeer and The Rake and drinks writer Emma Inch join Angela Clutton to discuss the shifting landscape of gay pubs, the battle against beer’s macho image, and Borough’s age-old links with brewing.

Clare Finney, author of Hungry Heart and a regular contributor to Borough Market, talks to Angela Clutton about the ties between food, love and human connection, her own complicated relationship with food, and the elemental power of breaking bread together.

Angela Clutton joins one of the regular surplus food collections run by Plan Zheroes and discovers how Borough Market produce that might otherwise go to waste finds its way to people in need. She chats to Plan Zheroes co-founder Chris Wilkie, chef and ambassador Jeremy Pang, traders, volunteers, and one of the many charities that benefit from the scheme.

Chloë Stewart of nibs etc. and TikTok star Martyn Odell (Lagom Chef) join Angela Clutton to discuss the devastating impact of food waste and how, by unlocking our creativity, changing our habits in the kitchen and redefining ‘waste’ as ‘resources’, we can all play our part in reducing it

Food writer and culture, diversity & comms consultant Mallika Basu offers her insights into writing cookbooks, building a personal brand, ‘feeding the beast’ of social media, and bringing cultural sensitivity to the language of food.

Legendary food writer and organiser Henrietta Green joins Angela Clutton to discuss her role in the dramatic rebirth of Borough Market in 1998, the alarming shape of food retail, and the ongoing revolution in British charcuterie.

Romy Gill, the British-Indian chef, food writer, broadcaster and author of the beautiful On The Himalayan Trail cookbook, joins Angela Clutton to discuss the roots of her approach to food, and the intense experience of exploring the Himalayas.

This special episode looks back at the Frost Fairs – wild, spontaneous festivals that repeatedly erupted on the frozen River Thames. Mark Riddaway, author of Edible Histories, gives us the history, while Tim Wilson of Ginger Pig and Andy Geddes of The Cinnamon Tree Bakery discuss the food sold at the Frost Fairs and how these historic events resonate with today’s Market traders.

For our second Christmas podcast Angela is joined by Jeremy Lee, charismatic chef-proprietor of Quo Vadis and author of the hit cookbook Cooking. The pair wander around the Market’s stalls visiting butchers, greengrocers and cheesemongers and chatting about everything from Jeremy’s memories of the Market’s formative days to his predictably indulgent approach to Christmas food.

For the first of our special Christmas podcasts, the cookery writer and self-proclaimed ‘queen of leftovers’ Melissa Hemsley wanders around the Market with Angela. They talk to traders, admire the design of Spanish fish tins, try Indonesian snake fruit and discuss Melissa’s love of Christmas pudding with cheese. Less an interview, more two friends chatting about food with the microphones left on.

Creating a complex cookbook like Borough Market: The Knowledge is an epic undertaking, requiring the input of lots of people with a diverse range of skills. For this highly informative podcast episode, Angela Clutton is joined by photographer Kim Lightbody, graphic designer Dave Brown and publisher Liz Gough to lift the lid on how Borough’s new cookbook came to be conceived.

The tables are turned in our latest podcast, as regular Borough Talks host Angela Clutton finds herself in the hotseat being interviewed by Itamar Srulovich of Honey & Co. Recorded live at the Market, she tells us about her love of history, theatre and food, her approach to cooking, and how she came to write our new book, Borough Market: The Knowledge, then shares some of the many insights she gained from traders along the way. 

Our new book, Borough Market: The Knowledge, is published on 27th October. Written by Borough Talks host Angela Clutton, it explores how the specialist knowledge of Borough’s traders can enhance your shopping, cooking and eating, and distils that expertise into beautiful recipes. In our latest podcast, Angela is joined by three traders who feature in the book: Nadia Gencas of Karaway Bakery talks about the wide world of rye breads, Steve Hook of Hook & Son discusses the wonders of raw milk, and Phil Juma of KUBBA shares his recipe for three-cheese bourek.

Earlier this year, Cynthia’s debut cookbook Rambutan made a huge splash, thanks to the vibrancy of her recipes and writing. In October, her restaurant of the same name will launch on Borough Market’s Stoney Street – one of the most keenly awaited openings of the year. In our latest podcast, Cynthia joins Angela to discuss how her Sri Lankan heritage and her experiences growing up in Britain have shaped her approach to food.

Change Please is a social enterprise that provides homeless people with the skills, equipment and support required to become fully fledged baristas, selling high-quality coffee from distinctive mobile carts, one of which can be found in Borough’s Green Market. In our latest podcast, Change Please founder Cemal Ezel joins Angela to discuss how the business helps people back into homes and employment.

For over 20 years Sheila Dillon has been one of the lead voices of The Food Programme on BBC Radio 4. In the latest Borough Talks podcast, she talks to host Angela Clutton about how the programme’s focus has evolved over the years and tells us about the first official book to come from it, 13 Foods That Shape Our World. They are joined by the book’s author, Alex Renton, who gives us an insight into how our ever-growing hunger for staples such as spices, oil and soy are changing the planet.

A special episode of Borough Talks for World Bee Day, hosted by Angela Clutton, in conversation with Sam Wallace of From Field and Flower. Sam and her husband, Stefano, have and continue to be committed to bringing fantastic raw honeys to London that are sustainably produced by beekeepers who know and love their bees - discussing how the production process of their honey keeps the naturally-occurring bacteria and flavours alive. Subscribe to Borough Talks and never miss an episode.

Join host Angela Clutton in conversation with award-winning food writer Georgina Hayden. Georgina talks about the influence her Cypriot heritage has on her cooking, the breadth of vegan recipes in her new book  Nistisima and the cultural inspirations behind them, and give us the inside track on being a judge on the Channel 4 TV show Great Cookbook Challenge with Jamie Oliver.